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Wednesday, 5 March 2014

County Council Urged To Fly The Rainbow Flag For LGBT History Month

Cambridgeshire County Council is in danger of sending a contradictory message to the public by not flying the rainbow flag warns Liberal Democrat Ed Cearns.

He says the council has a good record of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people but its failure to fly the flag during LGBT history month in February could be misinterpreted.

Cllr Cearns, who represents Cambridge’s Market Ward on the county council said that not flying the flag sends a negative message to young people who are LGBT with the implication that the council does not support them.

He is raising a motion at full council on March 25 calling on the council to fly the rainbow flag from Shire Hall during LGBT history month starting in February 2015

Cllr Cearns said: “The council failed to fly the flag in LGBT history month in February and took no part in the programme of events; I believe this was wrong.

“A significant number of local authorities, including our own district councils of Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire flew the flag this year, but the county council was noticeably absent from that list.

“I am concerned that by not flying the flag in support of LGBT people, the council sends a contradictory message when it has a good record of support including receiving national recognition from LGBT rights organisation, Stonewall.”

Cllr Cearns said there is still a great deal of work to achieve equality for LGBT people.

“There is a serious need for all public bodies to show their solidarity for the acceptance of LGBT people,” he said.

“I hope that councillors will support this motion so that we can fly the rainbow flag and show LGBT people and the wider public that we are fully supportive.”